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Survivor Stories #4
Anthony
Aaron Downing worshiped his mother. She saved his life. She did everything for him. But Anthony Downing has a different perspective. He sees the woman who tossed him into a basement for eight long years and forgot he existed. When Anthony decides he’s done being invisible, he packs up and heads for Detroit to stay with his Internet friend Jay, but fate intervenes.
Brendan Mears lost everything the day the man with a gun came into his father’s store. Now, he’s tethered to a business he can’t manage and a brother who resents him.
Different in all the ways that matter, Anthony and Brendan struggle to overcome their psychological obstacles, until a crushing betrayal sends them running for cover and each other.
Brendan Mears lost everything the day the man with a gun came into his father’s store. Now, he’s tethered to a business he can’t manage and a brother who resents him.
Different in all the ways that matter, Anthony and Brendan struggle to overcome their psychological obstacles, until a crushing betrayal sends them running for cover and each other.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2016
6 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Barnaby
51 books581 followersAn award-winning, best-selling novelist of over a dozen books, J. P. Barnaby is a proud member of the GLBT community both online and in her small town on the outskirts of Chicago. A member of Mensa, she is often described as brilliant but troubled, sweet but introverted and talented but deviant. She spends her days writing software and her nights writing erotica which is, of course, far more interesting. The spare time that she carves out between her career and her novels is spent reading about the concept of love, which, like some of her characters, she has never quite figured out for herself.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 6, 2018
Final Rating: 4/5
Hello roller coaster of everything that could possibly go wrong in your life.
It was almost as good as the others in the series, but there was something missing - the too fast pace and worst of all the fact that i felt that Anthony was hypocrite the moment he got closer to someone who was almost as damaged as his older brother.
He worked on it though and tried to help, but it felt like going nowhere.
Maybe that's it?
Anyway, it could have been more. Definitely could have used more to explore everything about Patrick, Bren and Anthony, considering they are the main characters of this story and it was equally divided between their POVs.
And no, it's not a love triangle, so don't worry.
Anthony has been the forgotten, invisible child that no one actually cared about because his already traumatized brother took all of the attention on him - which hurt a 10 year old boy who had to watch his whole life turn upside down...
This left him seething with hate, with rage, with the fact that he was invisible to everyone he cared about, and people kept leaving him one by one and he went spiraling more and more.
After a party that he went to with his best friend, it turned into a disaster and finally gave him an excuse to run away from home (ofc not thinking about what it would do to their mother - the one who almost lost her oldest son brutally) and chose to go to Detroit to meet up his online friend.
It was just a string of good luck when his car broke down in front of a store, managed by Patrick and his brother Bren. Two of them (or actually Patrick) decide to take Anthony in, and help him out until his car gets fixed.
Therefore he stays with both of them and finds out that Bren has suffered extreme trauma and refuses to leave his home; while Patrick is forced to take over their family liquor store because Bren (whose dream it was to take over it) wasted away in their own home, refusing to ever enter the store again.
And Patrick can't leave his only sibling alone, not while he is in the constant panic state whenever he doesn't feel safe.
They took Anthony in unconditionally, and then Patrick starts having doubts about the mysterious friend Jay Anthony was supposed to meet.
First of all, I'm glad that slowly but surely Anthony gets out of his self pity and gets someone to love him. He is damaged, he is also broken, but he also was too passive about everything and let the pain get too much to handle, therefore this whole situation with him running away.
But I am glad that he finally put himself together again and that he finally found understanding for both Aaron's and Bren's situations and used his experience to try to get things going and help.
But also, age difference (8). If you are uncomfortable with it, don't bother. It's not anything too far, but it may be what people dislike to see. Considering my grandparents fell in love with the same age difference, i don't find it a big deal.
just the fact that this story has a happy ending that Anthony deserved, and I loved the roles of his family (and ofc i was glad to see Aaron again <3) and that made me happy.
⚠ TYPE OF SERIES: series
⚠ Point of View:third, 3 povs
⚠ Cliffhanger: no
⚠ Triggers: depression
⚠ Love triangle: no
⚠ Angst: 60%
⚠ Supernatural:no
⚠ Explicit content:yes
◈ Aaron (Survivor Stories #1)
◈ Ben (Survivor Stories, #2)
◈ Spencer (Survivor Stories #3)
◈ Anthony (Survivor Stories, #4)
◈ Sophie (Survivor Stories, #5)
Being invisible was exhausting. Like bouncing off transparent walls in an attempt to escape, only no one else sees the walls.
Hello roller coaster of everything that could possibly go wrong in your life.
It was almost as good as the others in the series, but there was something missing - the too fast pace and worst of all the fact that i felt that Anthony was hypocrite the moment he got closer to someone who was almost as damaged as his older brother.
He worked on it though and tried to help, but it felt like going nowhere.
Maybe that's it?
Anyway, it could have been more. Definitely could have used more to explore everything about Patrick, Bren and Anthony, considering they are the main characters of this story and it was equally divided between their POVs.
And no, it's not a love triangle, so don't worry.
►►► STORY & CHARACTERS:
Anthony has been the forgotten, invisible child that no one actually cared about because his already traumatized brother took all of the attention on him - which hurt a 10 year old boy who had to watch his whole life turn upside down...
This left him seething with hate, with rage, with the fact that he was invisible to everyone he cared about, and people kept leaving him one by one and he went spiraling more and more.
After a party that he went to with his best friend, it turned into a disaster and finally gave him an excuse to run away from home (ofc not thinking about what it would do to their mother - the one who almost lost her oldest son brutally) and chose to go to Detroit to meet up his online friend.
It was just a string of good luck when his car broke down in front of a store, managed by Patrick and his brother Bren. Two of them (or actually Patrick) decide to take Anthony in, and help him out until his car gets fixed.
Therefore he stays with both of them and finds out that Bren has suffered extreme trauma and refuses to leave his home; while Patrick is forced to take over their family liquor store because Bren (whose dream it was to take over it) wasted away in their own home, refusing to ever enter the store again.
And Patrick can't leave his only sibling alone, not while he is in the constant panic state whenever he doesn't feel safe.
They took Anthony in unconditionally, and then Patrick starts having doubts about the mysterious friend Jay Anthony was supposed to meet.
►►► OVERALL:
First of all, I'm glad that slowly but surely Anthony gets out of his self pity and gets someone to love him. He is damaged, he is also broken, but he also was too passive about everything and let the pain get too much to handle, therefore this whole situation with him running away.
But I am glad that he finally put himself together again and that he finally found understanding for both Aaron's and Bren's situations and used his experience to try to get things going and help.
But also, age difference (8). If you are uncomfortable with it, don't bother. It's not anything too far, but it may be what people dislike to see. Considering my grandparents fell in love with the same age difference, i don't find it a big deal.
just the fact that this story has a happy ending that Anthony deserved, and I loved the roles of his family (and ofc i was glad to see Aaron again <3) and that made me happy.
►►► OTHER IMPORTANT INFO:
⚠ TYPE OF SERIES: series
⚠ Point of View:third, 3 povs
⚠ Cliffhanger: no
⚠ Triggers: depression
⚠ Love triangle: no
⚠ Angst: 60%
⚠ Supernatural:no
⚠ Explicit content:yes
►►► REVIEW(S) RELATED TO THIS BOOK:
◈ Aaron (Survivor Stories #1)
◈ Ben (Survivor Stories, #2)
◈ Spencer (Survivor Stories #3)
◈ Anthony (Survivor Stories, #4)
◈ Sophie (Survivor Stories, #5)
June 27, 2016
As with "Ben", when this book became available as an ARC, I asked the author whether she thought I could handle it. Because I'm a wimp, and I know I can't read "Aaron" or "Spencer", for reasons.
But she assured me I would be just fine, and I was.
Anthony is Aaron's little brother, moved to the basement with the middle brother Allen when Aaron returned home after being rescued from the man who abused and tortured him. There is thankfully no explicit violence in this book pertaining to Aaron's story. But living in the basement changes Anthony profoundly.
For many years now, even though Aaron has long since gone off to college, and is now living with Spencer, Anthony has been basically ignored, neglected, abandoned, and thinks that nobody cares about him. It's all about Aaron. And now Allen has gone off to college too.
So Anthony has resorted to alcohol and pills to numb his pain, and it is thus that we meet him in this book, on his way to another party with his friend Chase. I say friend, because that's how Anthony thinks of him.
Then Chase does a horrid thing to Anthony, and it's the straw that breaks the camel's back. Anthony wants to leave. Leave his crappy town and his crappy life and his dysfunctional family.
But Anthony is still just a dumb and impulsive teenage boy, and then he does a really dumb and impulsive thing. Actually, it's a series of dumb things, out of desperation and pain. I won't go into detail here so I don't spoil things for you.
The author really packs on the teenage angst, from a boy who feels broken and useless and thinks that nobody gives a rat's ass about him. JP Barnaby shows the reader how a single horrible act can have massive ripple effects and can destroy many lives.
Things could have gone terribly wrong for Anthony, but he's ever so lucky when his car dies in front of a liquor store and is found by Patrick Mears, who owns the liquor store with his brother, Brendan.
I liked Patrick a lot. He was straight-forward but kind, and he gave off that great big brother vibe. He seemed trustworthy from the start, and even offers Anthony a job.
There's a history of violence in the Mears family too, you see, the repercussions of which affect both Patrick and Brendan, and I think Patrick saw that Anthony was in way over his head.
I liked Anthony's snark - once he came out of his shell, he was a great kid, and I enjoyed reading him, even though he had a lot yet to learn.
But learn, he does, as time goes by, and as Patrick and Brendan and Anthony figure out how to deal with their individual pain, and start to realize that working together makes them stronger, not weaker.
The author does a fabulous job letting us see into all the main characters' heads, and their actions and reactions make sense within their characterizations. It turns out that Anthony and Patrick have something in common - they both live with the repercussions of what violence has wrought upon their families. They share the exhaustion of walking on eggshells around their brothers, the constant fear that the slightest thing might set them off. In some way, they bond over that, as strange as that may sound.
I also wondered if Patrick didn't see Anthony as a way of redemption, someone whom he could help when he couldn't help his own brother. He helps Anthony build a life for himself, find friends, carve out a niche that fits him.
When Brendan and Anthony get closer, there's a lot of miscommunication and jealousy in play, something that in romance books often is overdone, but in this case totally worked. It fit their characters, especially Brendan, who hates that he can't leave his house, another ripple effect from the aforementioned violence, and doesn't think that Anthony would want him.
At this point, I was rather upset with Brendan and Anthony both for being stubborn and emo. I could understand why they acted the way they did, but man, it made me mad.
The author definitely kept me on my toes throughout, even with the mystery of "Jay" - I expected that outcome, and was glad Patrick was there with Anthony. I did cry when the truth comes out, but only because I know that while this may be a fictional account, this kind of thing happens more often than we realize. It's a terrible, terrible thing, and I would have liked to personally punch the fictional villain repeatedly in the nether regions for what he did.
I disliked the family drama at the end even though I realize it was necessary. Well, I strongly disliked Anthony's mother for thinking that after abandoning her youngest son to the basement she would have any say in how he lives his life. And since I haven't read Aaron's story, and don't understand the character as well as I maybe should, I disliked him too initially, but then he redeemed himself. I guess he heard what Anthony was saying, for once. I actually cheered for Anthony when he finally tells his family exactly how he feels and it clears the air. And Anthony gets what he wants.
While this book hints at a HEA, I would classify this more as a HFN, considering Anthony's age, and how fresh the relationship with Brendan is.
There is a supporting cast as well, even if they weren't as three-dimensional as the main characters, but they all had their purpose.
Overall, I thought this was a great story. I was engaged from start to finish, fearing for Anthony, smiling when he stops being so emo, and happy for him when he finally gets what he's wanted - something who sees him.
Well done, JP, well done.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
But she assured me I would be just fine, and I was.
Anthony is Aaron's little brother, moved to the basement with the middle brother Allen when Aaron returned home after being rescued from the man who abused and tortured him. There is thankfully no explicit violence in this book pertaining to Aaron's story. But living in the basement changes Anthony profoundly.
For many years now, even though Aaron has long since gone off to college, and is now living with Spencer, Anthony has been basically ignored, neglected, abandoned, and thinks that nobody cares about him. It's all about Aaron. And now Allen has gone off to college too.
So Anthony has resorted to alcohol and pills to numb his pain, and it is thus that we meet him in this book, on his way to another party with his friend Chase. I say friend, because that's how Anthony thinks of him.
Then Chase does a horrid thing to Anthony, and it's the straw that breaks the camel's back. Anthony wants to leave. Leave his crappy town and his crappy life and his dysfunctional family.
But Anthony is still just a dumb and impulsive teenage boy, and then he does a really dumb and impulsive thing. Actually, it's a series of dumb things, out of desperation and pain. I won't go into detail here so I don't spoil things for you.
The author really packs on the teenage angst, from a boy who feels broken and useless and thinks that nobody gives a rat's ass about him. JP Barnaby shows the reader how a single horrible act can have massive ripple effects and can destroy many lives.
Things could have gone terribly wrong for Anthony, but he's ever so lucky when his car dies in front of a liquor store and is found by Patrick Mears, who owns the liquor store with his brother, Brendan.
I liked Patrick a lot. He was straight-forward but kind, and he gave off that great big brother vibe. He seemed trustworthy from the start, and even offers Anthony a job.
There's a history of violence in the Mears family too, you see, the repercussions of which affect both Patrick and Brendan, and I think Patrick saw that Anthony was in way over his head.
I liked Anthony's snark - once he came out of his shell, he was a great kid, and I enjoyed reading him, even though he had a lot yet to learn.
But learn, he does, as time goes by, and as Patrick and Brendan and Anthony figure out how to deal with their individual pain, and start to realize that working together makes them stronger, not weaker.
The author does a fabulous job letting us see into all the main characters' heads, and their actions and reactions make sense within their characterizations. It turns out that Anthony and Patrick have something in common - they both live with the repercussions of what violence has wrought upon their families. They share the exhaustion of walking on eggshells around their brothers, the constant fear that the slightest thing might set them off. In some way, they bond over that, as strange as that may sound.
I also wondered if Patrick didn't see Anthony as a way of redemption, someone whom he could help when he couldn't help his own brother. He helps Anthony build a life for himself, find friends, carve out a niche that fits him.
When Brendan and Anthony get closer, there's a lot of miscommunication and jealousy in play, something that in romance books often is overdone, but in this case totally worked. It fit their characters, especially Brendan, who hates that he can't leave his house, another ripple effect from the aforementioned violence, and doesn't think that Anthony would want him.
At this point, I was rather upset with Brendan and Anthony both for being stubborn and emo. I could understand why they acted the way they did, but man, it made me mad.
The author definitely kept me on my toes throughout, even with the mystery of "Jay" - I expected that outcome, and was glad Patrick was there with Anthony. I did cry when the truth comes out, but only because I know that while this may be a fictional account, this kind of thing happens more often than we realize. It's a terrible, terrible thing, and I would have liked to personally punch the fictional villain repeatedly in the nether regions for what he did.
I disliked the family drama at the end even though I realize it was necessary. Well, I strongly disliked Anthony's mother for thinking that after abandoning her youngest son to the basement she would have any say in how he lives his life. And since I haven't read Aaron's story, and don't understand the character as well as I maybe should, I disliked him too initially, but then he redeemed himself. I guess he heard what Anthony was saying, for once. I actually cheered for Anthony when he finally tells his family exactly how he feels and it clears the air. And Anthony gets what he wants.
While this book hints at a HEA, I would classify this more as a HFN, considering Anthony's age, and how fresh the relationship with Brendan is.
There is a supporting cast as well, even if they weren't as three-dimensional as the main characters, but they all had their purpose.
Overall, I thought this was a great story. I was engaged from start to finish, fearing for Anthony, smiling when he stops being so emo, and happy for him when he finally gets what he's wanted - something who sees him.
Well done, JP, well done.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
January 12, 2023
'Anthony' is book four in J.P. Barnaby's highly emotional series 'Survivor Stories'. Anthony is Aaron's youngest brother and I definitely got more insight into him in Spencer's story and, to a degree, I could empathize with his situation. Going into this book I was really hoping the author could help heal Anthony and help the family, as a whole, get to a better place.
I had to keep reminding myself that Anthony was only a month away from eighteen years old. That age was a long time ago for me and a huge part of me wanted to tell him to grow up, get over it, deal with it, etc. But Anthony is still a teenager and when he was nine years old his brother Aaron came home from the hospital so messed up that Anthony and his other brother, Allen, were moved to the basement. Anthony was a little boy who didn't understand and all he knows is that for the last eight years he's been invisible. He has so much anger and resentment built up for his parents, for Aaron, and even for Allen, that it's no wonder he makes a stupid decision and leaves his home looking for someone he believes will put him as their number one priority.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
I had to keep reminding myself that Anthony was only a month away from eighteen years old. That age was a long time ago for me and a huge part of me wanted to tell him to grow up, get over it, deal with it, etc. But Anthony is still a teenager and when he was nine years old his brother Aaron came home from the hospital so messed up that Anthony and his other brother, Allen, were moved to the basement. Anthony was a little boy who didn't understand and all he knows is that for the last eight years he's been invisible. He has so much anger and resentment built up for his parents, for Aaron, and even for Allen, that it's no wonder he makes a stupid decision and leaves his home looking for someone he believes will put him as their number one priority.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
November 13, 2017
I've been delaying reading this book for a while now, mainly because I was afraid it would be more like "Ben" (my least favorite book in the series) and less like "Aaron" and "Spencer" (my favorite books in this series - UNTIL NOW). I shouldn't have worried! In fact, I would have to say that this is my favorite book in the series.
We're first introduced to Anthony in "Aaron," the first book in the series, when he's an adorable little kid who doesn't really understand what is going on with his oldest brother. By the time we hit "Spencer," the third book in the series, Anthony has definitely taken a darker turn. He's into drugs and doesn't seem to care about much of anything, and he's heartbroken when his other brother goes off to college, leaving him behind.
This book takes place a few years after "Spencer." Anthony has now almost graduated from high school and has had a stint in rehab for his drug addiction. He feels ignored and unwanted, and so he decides to run away to Michigan for the summer to meet a friend he has only known online, Jay. But Anthony's car breaks down before he makes it to Detroit, and he meets Patrick, who manages a liquor store. Patrick's a nice guy, and he gives Anthony a job and a place to stay. He also introduces Anthony to his younger brother, Bren, who has agoraphobia and can't leave his house.
Honestly, at times I just wanted to tell Anthony to grow up a bit. Yes, his childhood wasn't exactly a bed of roses, but it wasn't really as horrible as he thought it was, either. And then I remembered being eighteen and how everything was so dramatic. So then I realized, hey, the author did a really good job of capturing how it feels to be that age. And Anthony does grow up a lot in the few months that are covered in this book.
The romance takes a backseat to Anthony maturing, but that felt fine to me. There is a relationship with Bren and a HFN. I'm not sure if the relationship will last forever (I mean, this is the first relationship for Anthony at all and the first relationship Bren has had since the incident that caused his agoraphobia, which was a few years back), but relationships don't have to last forever to be life-changing or fulfilling. I was completely happy with how the relationship unfolded and how the book ended.
The only thing that bothered me a little was
Otherwise, I would have to say that I feel like this is the best work from the author that I have read so far.
And then I read "Sophie," the last book in the series (more like a novella), and I wanted to throw something. But that is a separate review! ;)
We're first introduced to Anthony in "Aaron," the first book in the series, when he's an adorable little kid who doesn't really understand what is going on with his oldest brother. By the time we hit "Spencer," the third book in the series, Anthony has definitely taken a darker turn. He's into drugs and doesn't seem to care about much of anything, and he's heartbroken when his other brother goes off to college, leaving him behind.
This book takes place a few years after "Spencer." Anthony has now almost graduated from high school and has had a stint in rehab for his drug addiction. He feels ignored and unwanted, and so he decides to run away to Michigan for the summer to meet a friend he has only known online, Jay. But Anthony's car breaks down before he makes it to Detroit, and he meets Patrick, who manages a liquor store. Patrick's a nice guy, and he gives Anthony a job and a place to stay. He also introduces Anthony to his younger brother, Bren, who has agoraphobia and can't leave his house.
Honestly, at times I just wanted to tell Anthony to grow up a bit. Yes, his childhood wasn't exactly a bed of roses, but it wasn't really as horrible as he thought it was, either. And then I remembered being eighteen and how everything was so dramatic. So then I realized, hey, the author did a really good job of capturing how it feels to be that age. And Anthony does grow up a lot in the few months that are covered in this book.
The romance takes a backseat to Anthony maturing, but that felt fine to me. There is a relationship with Bren and a HFN. I'm not sure if the relationship will last forever (I mean, this is the first relationship for Anthony at all and the first relationship Bren has had since the incident that caused his agoraphobia, which was a few years back), but relationships don't have to last forever to be life-changing or fulfilling. I was completely happy with how the relationship unfolded and how the book ended.
The only thing that bothered me a little was
Otherwise, I would have to say that I feel like this is the best work from the author that I have read so far.
And then I read "Sophie," the last book in the series (more like a novella), and I wanted to throw something. But that is a separate review! ;)
June 22, 2016
You have no idea on how long I've been waiting for this book!!!!
No worries because she lives up to the expectation. This series is so devastatingly hard to get through. It puts your emotions through the ringer for sure. But you know what, I didn't even cry, much. I feel slightly cheated on that front. I wanted wracking pain and emotion! I should be able it wasn't, right? LOL. I'm such a masochist for this series. Even though book 2 doesn't exist in my world.
Well it took forever, but her stories always deliver. I mean you can see Anthony crying out for help in Spencer's book. Ugh I went into rage mode because of his parents. It's like they forgot about their youngest child. I know the focus was and is on Aaron. He went through a traumatic experience that it's hard for any parent to just stop caring for him and moving on.
Anthony is the youngest of the bunch. I think he was 9 years old when he had to move down to the basement. A basement he was scared of. He had to fight the demons at home and at school. Gosh, my protective instincts were on high alert in this book. I am still ragey mad by certain things that have happened in the book that didn't get talked about, but I'll let you read for yourselves.
"Being invisible was exhausting.
Like bouncing off transparent walls in an attempt to escape, only no one else sees the walls.
Ever."
I won't give away the plot, but Anthony's impulsiveness shows through his age. I mean, he didn't think things through in the beginning, and this could have went another way. Meeting Patrick saved his life.
Patrick and Brendan are bother suffering it seems. Living with the brutal death of their father and a constant reminder with the crime isn't a happy place. I will admit, I didn't know which road we were going for a bit. Both guys are dealing with things internally and Anthony comes along and it's like everyone eyes are open. They figure out how to work together. What it means to have one another? Anthony and Brendan come together in a special way.
Anthony has a lot to learn. He has to figure out what he wants in life. I liked the pairing of him and Brendan. It kinda forced Brendan to start caring about himself. It forced Brendan to open his eyes, and realize that he's still alive. Regardless of everything else, he's living, barely if that.
I don't know what the future holds for the series. I will admit, I missed Spencer in this book. He's my favorite. Barnaby has written a thought out series. It's emotional, heartbreaking and leaves everyone wanting to stand in from of these guys. I'd be happy if this was the end of the Survivor Series, because it's not the end to the survivors but the beginning.
Time for them to live.
July 1, 2016
4.5 Stars
Anthony made me sad in the beginning. The impact on his life as the family member of a kidnapping survivor is explored in a compelling journey of a boy to be seen, heard, and loved.
This story could be read as a standalone, but it’s probably better to get the background story in Aaron. That is where this all begins, and is important in understanding Anthony’s state of mind. I will say that it is covered very well in this story, so even if the reader hasn’t read Aaron first, it is explained well enough throughout, and the reader gets a good understanding of what happened all those years ago.
Feeling invisible, and that his life stopped mattering after his brother was rescued from being tortured and almost killed eight years before, Anthony has had enough. He is graduating, has a crush on his best-friend Chase, and after an awful night where Chase turns on him, he is at breaking point. He wants to matter to someone, and an internet friend feels like the only one who cares about him. In a fit of rage and self-pity, Anthony packs his belongings into his car and sets off to meet his friend Jay, traveling from the outskirts of Chicago, to Detroit, without telling his family where he is going.
As if his life isn’t bad enough, his car breaks down outside a liquor store just a few miles and a few hours too late to meet his friend. Alone without a phone, sleeping in his car, Anthony’s life just couldn’t seem to get any worse.
Patrick and Bren had their lives changed dramatically when Bren and his father were shot in the family-owned liquor store two years before, killing his father, and wounding Bren. Bren is now housebound, and has panic attacks often. Patrick has had to come back from Ohio to take care of Bren and the store. Things just don’t seem to be getting better for either brothers but that doesn’t stop Patrick from wanting to help Anthony, who at first, reminds him of a younger version of his brother, but on closer inspection is a younger version of himself, with all the chains that choke them as the family members of trauma survivors.
Having read Aaron, I jumped at the chance to read about his brother. Anthony is still a teenager, and it interested me to see the world from the point of view of less obvious victims of a traumatic event.
An ARC was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Anthony made me sad in the beginning. The impact on his life as the family member of a kidnapping survivor is explored in a compelling journey of a boy to be seen, heard, and loved.
This story could be read as a standalone, but it’s probably better to get the background story in Aaron. That is where this all begins, and is important in understanding Anthony’s state of mind. I will say that it is covered very well in this story, so even if the reader hasn’t read Aaron first, it is explained well enough throughout, and the reader gets a good understanding of what happened all those years ago.
Feeling invisible, and that his life stopped mattering after his brother was rescued from being tortured and almost killed eight years before, Anthony has had enough. He is graduating, has a crush on his best-friend Chase, and after an awful night where Chase turns on him, he is at breaking point. He wants to matter to someone, and an internet friend feels like the only one who cares about him. In a fit of rage and self-pity, Anthony packs his belongings into his car and sets off to meet his friend Jay, traveling from the outskirts of Chicago, to Detroit, without telling his family where he is going.
As if his life isn’t bad enough, his car breaks down outside a liquor store just a few miles and a few hours too late to meet his friend. Alone without a phone, sleeping in his car, Anthony’s life just couldn’t seem to get any worse.
Patrick and Bren had their lives changed dramatically when Bren and his father were shot in the family-owned liquor store two years before, killing his father, and wounding Bren. Bren is now housebound, and has panic attacks often. Patrick has had to come back from Ohio to take care of Bren and the store. Things just don’t seem to be getting better for either brothers but that doesn’t stop Patrick from wanting to help Anthony, who at first, reminds him of a younger version of his brother, but on closer inspection is a younger version of himself, with all the chains that choke them as the family members of trauma survivors.
Having read Aaron, I jumped at the chance to read about his brother. Anthony is still a teenager, and it interested me to see the world from the point of view of less obvious victims of a traumatic event.
An ARC was provided by the Publisher in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2016
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Anthony is the fourth book in J.P. Barnaby’s wonderful and powerful Survivor Stories series. Aaron is the first book in the series and there we see Anthony’s world from Aaron’s point of view. Aaron has been shattered by his abduction, abuse, and near murder, as well as the murder of his best friend.
He is an emotional mess and his mother is his savior, working tirelessly to help Aaron in his recovery. It is an incredibly intense and fabulous story, one of my favorites by Barnaby. But here she has done something really fascinating, and given us the perspective of Aaron’s younger brother and how the situation has affected him growing up in Aaron’s shadow. Anthony was basically moved into the basement and forgotten about as his parents focused on Aaron. He began drinking, got addicted to drugs, and essentially felt invisible and if no one cared about him. So now we catch up with Anthony as he is about to graduate high school and looking for a connection, someone to care about him and love him.
This story is also interesting because while the romance is between Anthony and Brendan, the book is really about the couple along with Brendan’s brother Patrick. All three get major page time and are POV characters, which is unusual for a romance, but it really works here. In the brothers we see both sides of Anthony’s story. Patrick, like Anthony, has had his life turned upside down by a tragedy that befell his brother. Patrick had his own life out of state and returned home to help Brendan, thinking it was only a short time before his brother took back over their liquor store and Patrick returned to his old life. Instead he is finding that Brendan is nowhere near ready to return to his life, and may never be, and that means Patrick must do what needs to be done to make sure Brendan is emotionally cared for, even at his own expense. Just like Anthony, Patrick’s life and desires come in second to his brother. At the same time, Anthony can understand Brendan, a man who was forever changed by an act of violence that has left him emotionally fragile and unable to function, just like Aaron. So being with these brothers gives Anthony both someone to relate to, as well as a sense of perspective from both sides of the situation. It is incredibly well done and such a clever way to present the story.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Anthony is the fourth book in J.P. Barnaby’s wonderful and powerful Survivor Stories series. Aaron is the first book in the series and there we see Anthony’s world from Aaron’s point of view. Aaron has been shattered by his abduction, abuse, and near murder, as well as the murder of his best friend.
He is an emotional mess and his mother is his savior, working tirelessly to help Aaron in his recovery. It is an incredibly intense and fabulous story, one of my favorites by Barnaby. But here she has done something really fascinating, and given us the perspective of Aaron’s younger brother and how the situation has affected him growing up in Aaron’s shadow. Anthony was basically moved into the basement and forgotten about as his parents focused on Aaron. He began drinking, got addicted to drugs, and essentially felt invisible and if no one cared about him. So now we catch up with Anthony as he is about to graduate high school and looking for a connection, someone to care about him and love him.
This story is also interesting because while the romance is between Anthony and Brendan, the book is really about the couple along with Brendan’s brother Patrick. All three get major page time and are POV characters, which is unusual for a romance, but it really works here. In the brothers we see both sides of Anthony’s story. Patrick, like Anthony, has had his life turned upside down by a tragedy that befell his brother. Patrick had his own life out of state and returned home to help Brendan, thinking it was only a short time before his brother took back over their liquor store and Patrick returned to his old life. Instead he is finding that Brendan is nowhere near ready to return to his life, and may never be, and that means Patrick must do what needs to be done to make sure Brendan is emotionally cared for, even at his own expense. Just like Anthony, Patrick’s life and desires come in second to his brother. At the same time, Anthony can understand Brendan, a man who was forever changed by an act of violence that has left him emotionally fragile and unable to function, just like Aaron. So being with these brothers gives Anthony both someone to relate to, as well as a sense of perspective from both sides of the situation. It is incredibly well done and such a clever way to present the story.
Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.
July 21, 2016
Barnaby's stories always deliver. She writes characters that you just want to wrap in your arms and protect with everything in you. Anthony is no different. Anthony, is the story of Aaron's little brother (you don't need to read Aaron to understand Anthony but I strongly recommend you do in order to fully appreciate Anthony's angst filled world.) Anthony, felt like the forgotten child, relocated from his upstairs bedroom to a room in the basement in order to escape Aaron's screams due to recurring nightmares. What was meant to be a means of helping everyone cope with Aaron's demons resulted in Anthony feeling neglected, forgotten... essentially physically and emotionally abandoned by his parents and both his older brothers. Making matters worse is the yearning he has in his heart for a relationship with his best friend... Who also abandons Anthony during his critical time of need.
Desperate to make a life worth living, Anthony embarks on a journey to meet up with an online friend he hopes to make a fresh start with. It is during this perilous journey that Anthony discovers his inner strength, finds love in an unexpected place and finally learns just how important he is to his family and how lucky he is despite life’s imperfections.
I loved every minute of this book. Again, it’s not required but please read Aaron first for a more in depth perspective of the Downing family dynamics.
*ARC provided for review*
Desperate to make a life worth living, Anthony embarks on a journey to meet up with an online friend he hopes to make a fresh start with. It is during this perilous journey that Anthony discovers his inner strength, finds love in an unexpected place and finally learns just how important he is to his family and how lucky he is despite life’s imperfections.
I loved every minute of this book. Again, it’s not required but please read Aaron first for a more in depth perspective of the Downing family dynamics.
*ARC provided for review*
June 21, 2016
This was a much anticipated book for me and I'm glad to say it didn't disappoint. Anthony is almost 18 at the beginning of the story and he's lost and adrift. He's sneaking out to parties and in love with his best friend who mistreats him. A series of events lead him to a new life. He gets a job and some friends and finally begins to learn who he is. We've watched Anthony grow through the course of this series and I'll admit I was super worried for him at the start of this book. He comes into his own though and I loved the new characters we meet as Anthony starts this chapter of his life. Brendan and his brother were great. There were actually a few times in this book that I didn't know where the author was headed with the story and that rarely happens to me anymore so I was happy with that.
This book was not as dark as first two books in the series were (I haven't read book three). If you're already a fan of this series I think you'll enjoy this and if you haven't read the rest of the series you'll find this book can easily be read as a stand alone. For those of you who have read the prior books, there are some scenes with Aaron and his family in this.
This book was not as dark as first two books in the series were (I haven't read book three). If you're already a fan of this series I think you'll enjoy this and if you haven't read the rest of the series you'll find this book can easily be read as a stand alone. For those of you who have read the prior books, there are some scenes with Aaron and his family in this.
July 16, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
Anthony is a book that should have been emotionally devastating - but not in the way it was. Instead of diving into the complicated grief and neglect Anthony experiences, it just quietly exposes how thoroughly he’s been forgotten by his family. It’s jarring if you’ve read Aaron’s story first: where Aaron was supported (if overwhelmed), Anthony might as well not exist. When he runs away from an abusive home, no one seems to notice. No emails, no real attempts at contact, and when his face shows up in a missing persons investigation, it’s not even because his parents called the cops - it’s because the police linked him to a man they’d just arrested for grooming teens. That’s how little his family did.
And even when Anthony finally calls Aaron, hoping for understanding, he’s treated like a burden. Everyone suddenly wants to claim concern, but none of them listened to him. The only people who actually kept Anthony safe (Patrick and Brendan) were strangers. Yet when they stand by him, they’re treated with suspicion. Why? Because they did the job his family didn’t. The book tries to tie everything up with a neat emotional bow, but the damage is done - and not just to Anthony, but to the credibility of the whole family dynamic across the series.
Anthony is a book that should have been emotionally devastating - but not in the way it was. Instead of diving into the complicated grief and neglect Anthony experiences, it just quietly exposes how thoroughly he’s been forgotten by his family. It’s jarring if you’ve read Aaron’s story first: where Aaron was supported (if overwhelmed), Anthony might as well not exist. When he runs away from an abusive home, no one seems to notice. No emails, no real attempts at contact, and when his face shows up in a missing persons investigation, it’s not even because his parents called the cops - it’s because the police linked him to a man they’d just arrested for grooming teens. That’s how little his family did.
And even when Anthony finally calls Aaron, hoping for understanding, he’s treated like a burden. Everyone suddenly wants to claim concern, but none of them listened to him. The only people who actually kept Anthony safe (Patrick and Brendan) were strangers. Yet when they stand by him, they’re treated with suspicion. Why? Because they did the job his family didn’t. The book tries to tie everything up with a neat emotional bow, but the damage is done - and not just to Anthony, but to the credibility of the whole family dynamic across the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2016
This book was very different from Aaron and Spencer. I'm not going to say it wasn't a good story; it was. It was just a very quick story. Everything happened rapidly and there was just not enough time for me to learn about Anthony or Bren. I was very insta-love/insta-connection. I mean within ten minutes of meeting each other, Anthony and Bren are doing it on the couch!! It's a very weird dynamic and I wasn't given enough time to grow attached to these characters. There was a lot of improbability in a lot that happened in this story. For one, is Anthony really that much of an idiot that he would just leave his home to go visit Jay, someone he only met online? He has no idea who this person really is.
Second, I don't know that anyone would really take in a kid off the street as Patrick did with Anthony. His car breaks down in front of Patrick's liquor store and Patrick is such a soft heart he gives this STRANGER a place to sleep and a job. Wow. With previous stories in this book, the relationship was given time to grow and mature and for trust to be established. They didn't go into their relationship as strangers; they started as friends. In this last installment, it was all very rushed, as if the author just wanted to get it over with.
These characters are battling their own demons yet they are not dealt with, not really. Anthony should have been in therapy when he was a kid after what happened to his brother. It would have been a way for him to learn in an appropriate way what had happened to his older brother, why he was being moved to the basement as well as a way for him to express his fears of the dark. Perhaps his life wouldn't have snowballed out of control by age 17 almost 18.
And then there is Bren, whose an alcoholic and agoraphobic. Those issues aren't dealt with either. At the end of the book in a casual conversation Bren talks about seeing a therapist, and Anthony is like, don't do that. I like you how you are, but if you want to go ahead, if this will make you happy? Really? Anthony didn't want Bren to get help? He should have been jumping up and down!
When Anthony went missing, why didn't the family try harder to locate him? Why didn't the brothers use their tech skills to find him? Allen emailed him once - ONCE! Anthony didn't respond and so nobody emailed him again after that. Aaron is the tech guru and he could have found a way to track his laptop. I know he could have. Hackers do that stuff all the time!!
There was just a lot going on in this story and none of it was rational. I also didn't get the impression that Anthony knew the full extent of what Aaron went through. He just tosses off the words, "yeah, my brother was raped and tortured," as if he were giving directions. He has no inner reflection about what that really meant for his brother. He only thought about himself, and I understand and feel so sorry for the kid he was who was tossed in the basement and afraid. He didn't understand but then he grew up and could have demanded things change. But he didn't Allen was his haven, the brother he could talk to. Why didn't he?
I know I am venting and ranting; please don't let this dissuade you from reading this book. This is just one readers opinion. I love JP Barnaby's writing. This book was just not a home run for me.
Second, I don't know that anyone would really take in a kid off the street as Patrick did with Anthony. His car breaks down in front of Patrick's liquor store and Patrick is such a soft heart he gives this STRANGER a place to sleep and a job. Wow. With previous stories in this book, the relationship was given time to grow and mature and for trust to be established. They didn't go into their relationship as strangers; they started as friends. In this last installment, it was all very rushed, as if the author just wanted to get it over with.
These characters are battling their own demons yet they are not dealt with, not really. Anthony should have been in therapy when he was a kid after what happened to his brother. It would have been a way for him to learn in an appropriate way what had happened to his older brother, why he was being moved to the basement as well as a way for him to express his fears of the dark. Perhaps his life wouldn't have snowballed out of control by age 17 almost 18.
And then there is Bren, whose an alcoholic and agoraphobic. Those issues aren't dealt with either. At the end of the book in a casual conversation Bren talks about seeing a therapist, and Anthony is like, don't do that. I like you how you are, but if you want to go ahead, if this will make you happy? Really? Anthony didn't want Bren to get help? He should have been jumping up and down!
When Anthony went missing, why didn't the family try harder to locate him? Why didn't the brothers use their tech skills to find him? Allen emailed him once - ONCE! Anthony didn't respond and so nobody emailed him again after that. Aaron is the tech guru and he could have found a way to track his laptop. I know he could have. Hackers do that stuff all the time!!
There was just a lot going on in this story and none of it was rational. I also didn't get the impression that Anthony knew the full extent of what Aaron went through. He just tosses off the words, "yeah, my brother was raped and tortured," as if he were giving directions. He has no inner reflection about what that really meant for his brother. He only thought about himself, and I understand and feel so sorry for the kid he was who was tossed in the basement and afraid. He didn't understand but then he grew up and could have demanded things change. But he didn't Allen was his haven, the brother he could talk to. Why didn't he?
I know I am venting and ranting; please don't let this dissuade you from reading this book. This is just one readers opinion. I love JP Barnaby's writing. This book was just not a home run for me.
July 5, 2016
***Wow - 4.5 Stars of Astounding***
I like books that delve off the beaten path into areas not traversed so heavily, and this book does just precisely that. Please note that I have not read the other books in this series, and I did not feel that I missed any pertinent information that might detract from the novel.
Anthony is the youngest brother in a family torn asunder by a vicious, violent crime perpetrated against the eldest. Unfortunately, Anthony is just as much a victim as his brother, as from that night forward, he and his middle brother have been consistently left to fend for themselves while their parents deal with the aftermath in their oldest child. As a result, Anthony has PTSD, though it isn’t ever addressed as such in this book, and his decision-making skills are sorely lacking through neglect.
When online friend Jay suggests that he come stay over the summer and skip his high school graduation, Anthony doesn’t think twice - he just packs up and leaves. Things don’t quite go as planned, however. Anthony ends up stuck in the parking lot of a liquor store and under the watchful camera eye of Brandon, a man stricken with agoraphobia due to an attack that left him grievously wounded and his father dead. While Brandon doesn’t leave the house, he watches the security feeds compulsively at all hours of the day and night.
This story is powerful in its integrity. There is no sugarcoating the truths of these two individuals. They are in your face in all their anger, shame, helplessness, caring, and passion. I’m not a fan of new adult (I’ve mentioned that a time or three in other reviews), but this didn’t really feel like a new adult book. It felt like healing. It felt like friendship. It felt like each offered precisely what the other needed in order to effectively deal with their traumas. Well written in gritty detail, the main and peripheral characters pack a solid punch. The chemistry between Anthony and Brandon is strong, yet comes across as almost innocent. The ending is beautifully written, and while I’ve not read any of the previous books in this series, I will certainly be doing so in short order. Well done, Ms. Barnaby!
I like books that delve off the beaten path into areas not traversed so heavily, and this book does just precisely that. Please note that I have not read the other books in this series, and I did not feel that I missed any pertinent information that might detract from the novel.
Anthony is the youngest brother in a family torn asunder by a vicious, violent crime perpetrated against the eldest. Unfortunately, Anthony is just as much a victim as his brother, as from that night forward, he and his middle brother have been consistently left to fend for themselves while their parents deal with the aftermath in their oldest child. As a result, Anthony has PTSD, though it isn’t ever addressed as such in this book, and his decision-making skills are sorely lacking through neglect.
When online friend Jay suggests that he come stay over the summer and skip his high school graduation, Anthony doesn’t think twice - he just packs up and leaves. Things don’t quite go as planned, however. Anthony ends up stuck in the parking lot of a liquor store and under the watchful camera eye of Brandon, a man stricken with agoraphobia due to an attack that left him grievously wounded and his father dead. While Brandon doesn’t leave the house, he watches the security feeds compulsively at all hours of the day and night.
This story is powerful in its integrity. There is no sugarcoating the truths of these two individuals. They are in your face in all their anger, shame, helplessness, caring, and passion. I’m not a fan of new adult (I’ve mentioned that a time or three in other reviews), but this didn’t really feel like a new adult book. It felt like healing. It felt like friendship. It felt like each offered precisely what the other needed in order to effectively deal with their traumas. Well written in gritty detail, the main and peripheral characters pack a solid punch. The chemistry between Anthony and Brandon is strong, yet comes across as almost innocent. The ending is beautifully written, and while I’ve not read any of the previous books in this series, I will certainly be doing so in short order. Well done, Ms. Barnaby!
August 8, 2016
4.5
JP Barnaby writes some powerful emotional stories and Survivor Series is one of them.
In the previous books we see how a tragic accident ruined Aaron life and how he fought tooth and nail to regain back his life. But tragic events doesn’t only hit the victim, it hits all the people that are around and this is the storyline of the book.
We see how Anthony, Aaron’s little brother, life has changed since Aaron was assaulted, raped and almost killed.
For years his parents have had to help Aaron and in the process, neglecting the other 2 younger sons, Anthony and Allen.
The situation becomes more difficult when Allen leave for college. Anthony feel alone, neglected and he is bullied at school for being gay.
At almost eighteen Anthony, he has now reached breaking point. He thoughtlessly runs away from home to visit a online friend in Detroit.
Fortunately his car breaks down and he never reaches the appointment (later in the book we discover what danger he could have been in).
He meets liquor store owner, Patrick, this turns out to be his salvation. Patrick not only gives Anthony a place to live but also a job to earn the money he needs to repair his car.
Patrick’s life has not been easy either, his younger brother, Bren, was shot in his store some years previously and their father was killed. This traumatic experience has left Bren unable to leave his house or run the shop, so Patrick has sacrificed everything for him.
Anthony and Patrick are two brothers who have had to face difficulties in a similar situations.
Anthony can understand Patrick feelings but at the same time, understands Bren’s trauma. They slowly became friends and then something more.
What surprised me was the understanding Anthony showed Bren, I expected resentment but it just shows what a wonderful character he is.
Though it doesn’t happen out of the blue, slowly both Anthony and Bren begin to heal. It is a long process but they start to rebuild their lives.
I really liked the book, my only wish would have been to have had it a bit longer, I wanted to see Bren start living his life again, so we are left with our imagination as to what a wonderful life it will be.
If this Series has slipped through your fingers, I urge you to read it, it’s a must read! I also strongly suggest that to get full pleasure, start with book 1 and make your way through.
It’s a powerful, painful and an emotional journey, one which I’m glad to have journeyed.
JP Barnaby writes some powerful emotional stories and Survivor Series is one of them.
In the previous books we see how a tragic accident ruined Aaron life and how he fought tooth and nail to regain back his life. But tragic events doesn’t only hit the victim, it hits all the people that are around and this is the storyline of the book.
We see how Anthony, Aaron’s little brother, life has changed since Aaron was assaulted, raped and almost killed.
For years his parents have had to help Aaron and in the process, neglecting the other 2 younger sons, Anthony and Allen.
The situation becomes more difficult when Allen leave for college. Anthony feel alone, neglected and he is bullied at school for being gay.
At almost eighteen Anthony, he has now reached breaking point. He thoughtlessly runs away from home to visit a online friend in Detroit.
Fortunately his car breaks down and he never reaches the appointment (later in the book we discover what danger he could have been in).
He meets liquor store owner, Patrick, this turns out to be his salvation. Patrick not only gives Anthony a place to live but also a job to earn the money he needs to repair his car.
Patrick’s life has not been easy either, his younger brother, Bren, was shot in his store some years previously and their father was killed. This traumatic experience has left Bren unable to leave his house or run the shop, so Patrick has sacrificed everything for him.
Anthony and Patrick are two brothers who have had to face difficulties in a similar situations.
Anthony can understand Patrick feelings but at the same time, understands Bren’s trauma. They slowly became friends and then something more.
What surprised me was the understanding Anthony showed Bren, I expected resentment but it just shows what a wonderful character he is.
Though it doesn’t happen out of the blue, slowly both Anthony and Bren begin to heal. It is a long process but they start to rebuild their lives.
I really liked the book, my only wish would have been to have had it a bit longer, I wanted to see Bren start living his life again, so we are left with our imagination as to what a wonderful life it will be.
If this Series has slipped through your fingers, I urge you to read it, it’s a must read! I also strongly suggest that to get full pleasure, start with book 1 and make your way through.
It’s a powerful, painful and an emotional journey, one which I’m glad to have journeyed.
March 19, 2017
Aaron is the book I put on a pedestal. Not only from this series but my overall book loving spotlight shining down on it pedestal of amazeballs love!
I'm a little late getting to Anthony's story but I finally made it here & I'm so glad I didn't miss out.
This book was a little light on the 'romance' part and big on the other stuff. I do think the way Anthony & Bren are, there was no other way to share their story without showing who these guys truly are. (does that make sense?) My heart hurt for Anthony, it hurt for Bren and it even hurt for Patrick. By the end I felt like the pieces were beginning to form again and making my heart whole...and I do feel like the same thing was happening with these guys.
When I become attached to characters I tend to drag out reading the series because I never want to say goodbye. (I think I held off reading the last book of the Little Boy Lost series because I couldn't bare to say bye to Jamie & Brian) So, who knows if I'll dive right into reading Sophie or if I'll save it for a rainy day.
#Detroit #readin2017
I'm a little late getting to Anthony's story but I finally made it here & I'm so glad I didn't miss out.
This book was a little light on the 'romance' part and big on the other stuff. I do think the way Anthony & Bren are, there was no other way to share their story without showing who these guys truly are. (does that make sense?) My heart hurt for Anthony, it hurt for Bren and it even hurt for Patrick. By the end I felt like the pieces were beginning to form again and making my heart whole...and I do feel like the same thing was happening with these guys.
When I become attached to characters I tend to drag out reading the series because I never want to say goodbye. (I think I held off reading the last book of the Little Boy Lost series because I couldn't bare to say bye to Jamie & Brian) So, who knows if I'll dive right into reading Sophie or if I'll save it for a rainy day.
#Detroit #readin2017
November 30, 2017
Anthony (Survivor Stories #4) by J.P. Barnaby
3.5 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Human Trafficking, gun violence
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Anthony and Brendan are a strange couple. Anthony went looking to escape his home life. He felt that he had been lost and not wanted for so long after his brother's ordeal that he escaped in to drugs and alcohol. When push came to shove and people he thought were his friends also turned on him, Anthony sought out comfort from a friend he met online while gaming.
While he's trying to find himself, he winds up in an even bigger pickle than he started. However, thanks to a good Samaritan, he also finds a new friend out of the situation.
Brendan has had a difficult trauma. He is now more agoraphobic than anything, but he needs to have some semblance of control of the outside world, so he lives his life through surveillance cameras. He is surly, mean and just down right ungrateful, in my opinion. His brother, Patrick was amazing in this story. Patrick dropped everything for his brother and yet, his brother does not appreciate any of what Patrick had to give up.
I think this story was well written, but Anthony ended up in a similar situation as his home life. However, I did like that Anthony was able to stand up for himself and voice to his family how he was feeling. I would have liked more of a resolution about that situation. I felt that they didn't really address it.
3.5 stars
M/M Romance
Triggers: Human Trafficking, gun violence
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Anthony and Brendan are a strange couple. Anthony went looking to escape his home life. He felt that he had been lost and not wanted for so long after his brother's ordeal that he escaped in to drugs and alcohol. When push came to shove and people he thought were his friends also turned on him, Anthony sought out comfort from a friend he met online while gaming.
While he's trying to find himself, he winds up in an even bigger pickle than he started. However, thanks to a good Samaritan, he also finds a new friend out of the situation.
Brendan has had a difficult trauma. He is now more agoraphobic than anything, but he needs to have some semblance of control of the outside world, so he lives his life through surveillance cameras. He is surly, mean and just down right ungrateful, in my opinion. His brother, Patrick was amazing in this story. Patrick dropped everything for his brother and yet, his brother does not appreciate any of what Patrick had to give up.
I think this story was well written, but Anthony ended up in a similar situation as his home life. However, I did like that Anthony was able to stand up for himself and voice to his family how he was feeling. I would have liked more of a resolution about that situation. I felt that they didn't really address it.
July 3, 2016
I so wanted to give this book all 5 stars...I just love this series, and I wondered about Anthony ever since the 3rd book.
So, this was a well-written story, and I enjoyed it very much. Except it didn't feel much like a romance. It was all about Anthony, his way to self-discovery, his growing up and gaining life experience. Why then make his love interest Bren so messed up? I didn't feel like I got to know Bren at all. Even his brother, who also had a POV, gets more scenes, and more page time. I get that the focus was on Anthony, but the author just glossed over Bren, his issues, his healing, and his relationship with Anthony.
Wish the book was longer.
So, this was a well-written story, and I enjoyed it very much. Except it didn't feel much like a romance. It was all about Anthony, his way to self-discovery, his growing up and gaining life experience. Why then make his love interest Bren so messed up? I didn't feel like I got to know Bren at all. Even his brother, who also had a POV, gets more scenes, and more page time. I get that the focus was on Anthony, but the author just glossed over Bren, his issues, his healing, and his relationship with Anthony.
Wish the book was longer.
June 27, 2016
My review for this is now up at Just Love.
I gave this 3.5 stars... rounding up here for reasons.
I gave this 3.5 stars... rounding up here for reasons.
April 16, 2022
A good book - I didn't think it was as intense as Aaron's story, but it was fast moving, some angst, but the supporting cast - Patrick, especially - made for a really good read. I loved Anthony and thought that he did really well all things considered in his choices and the situation he was in. This is well worth the read!
September 24, 2017
I loved Aaron & Spencer, but this one was disappointing. The two MCs hardly have any time together in the book. Thier love for eachother came out of nowhere for me. Too much Patrick and not enough from Bren's point of view.
June 28, 2017
3.5 stars
September 24, 2017
4.5 to 4.75 stars
October 1, 2017
See five book bundle for review.
December 29, 2018
This one is about a young and stupid kid, that grows up a little and becomes a little less young and stupid, but he still remains quite young and stupid.
October 5, 2024
3.5 stars
June 7, 2017
I started the series with this book. At first, I didn't like the party scene. Nevertheless, I persisted. Turns out, I liked the book. The end happened quickly.
December 13, 2016
*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*
This wasn't a romance per se. The romance takes a definite back-seat in this story. This was mostly Anthony's story. Anthony is Aaron's youngest brother and after Aaron was attacked, their parents moved Anthony and their middle brother Allen into the basement, so they wouldn't be disturbed by Aaron's nightmares, but now both Aaron and Allen have left home and Anthony still remains alone in the basement. He feels isolated and ignored, but mostly unloved and unwanted. When he decides to meet up with an online gaming friend in Detroit, fate has other plans and leads him to Patrick's liquor store, and eventually Patrick's brother, Brendan.
Brendan is a recluse. An agoraphobic, who after witnessing the brutal murder of his father and the attempt on his own life during a robbery, can't bring himself to leave his home. When his brother brings Anthony over, it's not only instant attraction, but Bren also feels a peace with Anthony that he hasn't felt since the shooting, but are these two young men too damaged to make this romance work?
I absolutely loved Aaron and Spencer, but I'll be honest I haven't read Ben, because as good as it sounds, I just can't do BDSM. When I saw Anthony had been released I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. This was an amazing read that I just couldn't put down. Anthony and Brendan don't even meet for the first time until 40% into the book and usually, I'd be really upset with this, but JP had me so enthralled I didn't even notice. Anthony was such an interesting and intriguing character I couldn't get enough of his story. I loved seeing the layers peeled back and discovering what was beneath all that teenage broodiness. It also doesn't hurt that Ms. Barnaby is such a talented writer she could probably make the phone book an interesting read. I know that's not the correct analogy, but hey, it works!
These three MC's and yes, I say three, because although Brendan is Anthony's romantic interest in this story, Brendan's brother, Patrick, is also a huge part of this story, and a good portion of the book is told from his POV, these three are so complex and each is damaged in his own way, I just wanted to hug each and every one of them and tell them it would all be alright.
This story is well-written and captivating. From the moment I picked it up, it engaged me and held my attention. I loved watching these characters grow and change. I adored Anthony's snarkiness when he finally began to come out of his shell. And watching him make real friends was so heartwarming. I loved Patrick. He was the ultimate older brother not only to his brother Brendan, but to Anthony, as well. Brendan, well he was a different story. Honestly, I hated him on sight, but as he grew closer to Anthony and I got to know him better, I fell for him, too. There was an undeniable chemistry between Anthony and Bren. The sexual tension was off the charts and the sex was hot, yet passionate and loving, as well.
The mystery of the "Jay" storyline was well-written, but so sad. The ending was realistic. It's more of a HFN rather than a true HEA, but this is a 18 and 24 year old, so while it's happy, it makes no promises. I know JP Barnaby has her reasons for retiring, but she is such a gifted writer that when she puts her pen down, it really will be a great loss the literary world. I can't recommend this book, as well as Aaron and Spencer, enough. These are dark books with damaged characters, but in each book there's a light at the end of the tunnel waiting to lead them out of the sadness and into happiness.
This wasn't a romance per se. The romance takes a definite back-seat in this story. This was mostly Anthony's story. Anthony is Aaron's youngest brother and after Aaron was attacked, their parents moved Anthony and their middle brother Allen into the basement, so they wouldn't be disturbed by Aaron's nightmares, but now both Aaron and Allen have left home and Anthony still remains alone in the basement. He feels isolated and ignored, but mostly unloved and unwanted. When he decides to meet up with an online gaming friend in Detroit, fate has other plans and leads him to Patrick's liquor store, and eventually Patrick's brother, Brendan.
Brendan is a recluse. An agoraphobic, who after witnessing the brutal murder of his father and the attempt on his own life during a robbery, can't bring himself to leave his home. When his brother brings Anthony over, it's not only instant attraction, but Bren also feels a peace with Anthony that he hasn't felt since the shooting, but are these two young men too damaged to make this romance work?
I absolutely loved Aaron and Spencer, but I'll be honest I haven't read Ben, because as good as it sounds, I just can't do BDSM. When I saw Anthony had been released I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. This was an amazing read that I just couldn't put down. Anthony and Brendan don't even meet for the first time until 40% into the book and usually, I'd be really upset with this, but JP had me so enthralled I didn't even notice. Anthony was such an interesting and intriguing character I couldn't get enough of his story. I loved seeing the layers peeled back and discovering what was beneath all that teenage broodiness. It also doesn't hurt that Ms. Barnaby is such a talented writer she could probably make the phone book an interesting read. I know that's not the correct analogy, but hey, it works!
These three MC's and yes, I say three, because although Brendan is Anthony's romantic interest in this story, Brendan's brother, Patrick, is also a huge part of this story, and a good portion of the book is told from his POV, these three are so complex and each is damaged in his own way, I just wanted to hug each and every one of them and tell them it would all be alright.
This story is well-written and captivating. From the moment I picked it up, it engaged me and held my attention. I loved watching these characters grow and change. I adored Anthony's snarkiness when he finally began to come out of his shell. And watching him make real friends was so heartwarming. I loved Patrick. He was the ultimate older brother not only to his brother Brendan, but to Anthony, as well. Brendan, well he was a different story. Honestly, I hated him on sight, but as he grew closer to Anthony and I got to know him better, I fell for him, too. There was an undeniable chemistry between Anthony and Bren. The sexual tension was off the charts and the sex was hot, yet passionate and loving, as well.
The mystery of the "Jay" storyline was well-written, but so sad. The ending was realistic. It's more of a HFN rather than a true HEA, but this is a 18 and 24 year old, so while it's happy, it makes no promises. I know JP Barnaby has her reasons for retiring, but she is such a gifted writer that when she puts her pen down, it really will be a great loss the literary world. I can't recommend this book, as well as Aaron and Spencer, enough. These are dark books with damaged characters, but in each book there's a light at the end of the tunnel waiting to lead them out of the sadness and into happiness.
July 29, 2016
Anthony is the final book in the Survivor Stories Series by J.P. Barnaby. The first three books were sometimes difficult to read, presenting tales of kidnapping, abuse, and the aftermath of these events, as experienced by the victims as well as their families. However frightening the incidents might be they presented the brutal truths of young men and their families torn apart by violence but ultimately finding relationships and a future.
Anthony was only ten years old when his older brother Aaron was kidnapped, tortured, and came home a different person than the brother Anthony loved. Aaron wasn’t the only person changed by the events, however. Their parents were traumatized and focused on Aaron’s care, dismissing the other brothers to sleeping in the basement and pretty much fending for themselves. Anthony saw everything through a child’s eyes and felt abandoned and betrayed by his own family. When he begins self-medicating his depression through drinking and using drugs his parents put him in recovery, another case, in Anthony’s eyes, of trying to get rid of him.
At the time of our story, Anthony is 17, almost 18 years old. He attends a party with his supposed best friend and when that so-called friend’s true colors are revealed Anthony is once again crushed and betrayed. He has only one other friend, an online chat friend who invites Anthony to come stay with him in another city. Without giving it much thought, Anthony puts some of his belongings in his car, takes money from his parents’ bedroom, and sets out to meet Jay. When Anthony’s car breaks down it is either the worst thing that could happen to him or the best.
I loved the wrap up of this series. This is a much gentler, although not entirely easy, story than the first three books. Anthony takes refuge with another family that is healing from trauma and loss and begins to find hope with Patrick and Bren. Can everyone get a fresh start together or will all of their baggage be too much and tear everyone apart. Can Anthony reunite with his family and start to heal old wounds? So much to cover, so much to love.
Ms. Barnaby tells me this may be her final book using this penname. I can only hope she continues to write in some fashion as she has a voice that needs to be heard.
Anthony was only ten years old when his older brother Aaron was kidnapped, tortured, and came home a different person than the brother Anthony loved. Aaron wasn’t the only person changed by the events, however. Their parents were traumatized and focused on Aaron’s care, dismissing the other brothers to sleeping in the basement and pretty much fending for themselves. Anthony saw everything through a child’s eyes and felt abandoned and betrayed by his own family. When he begins self-medicating his depression through drinking and using drugs his parents put him in recovery, another case, in Anthony’s eyes, of trying to get rid of him.
At the time of our story, Anthony is 17, almost 18 years old. He attends a party with his supposed best friend and when that so-called friend’s true colors are revealed Anthony is once again crushed and betrayed. He has only one other friend, an online chat friend who invites Anthony to come stay with him in another city. Without giving it much thought, Anthony puts some of his belongings in his car, takes money from his parents’ bedroom, and sets out to meet Jay. When Anthony’s car breaks down it is either the worst thing that could happen to him or the best.
I loved the wrap up of this series. This is a much gentler, although not entirely easy, story than the first three books. Anthony takes refuge with another family that is healing from trauma and loss and begins to find hope with Patrick and Bren. Can everyone get a fresh start together or will all of their baggage be too much and tear everyone apart. Can Anthony reunite with his family and start to heal old wounds? So much to cover, so much to love.
Ms. Barnaby tells me this may be her final book using this penname. I can only hope she continues to write in some fashion as she has a voice that needs to be heard.
June 29, 2016
Though this can be a standalone, I don’t recommend it. It’s best read as part of the series or at least after Aaron.
Anthony is Aaron Downing’s youngest brother. Aaron was a victim of a kidnapping and it left his family a wreck. Since the kidnapping, Anthony has been relegated to the basement of the family both literally and figuratively. Now, he’s 18 and he’s had enough.
When the straight best friend he’s crushed on for years finally pushes him too far, Anthony hooks up with an online friend and runs away to Detroit. He’s almost made it when his car breaks down and he ends up being “saved” by the one family that probably understands his plight better than anyone.
Brendan was about Anthony’s age when he and his father were held up and shot at the liquor store the family owns. Now Brendan can’t leave his apartment for the crippling anxiety the thought provokes. His older brother Patrick is left to keep the store running and do what he can to help Brendan.
**
Wow. This story did not go how I thought it would.
On the one hand, it’s actually a bit darker than Aaron’s story – in the sense that we are left with a HFN and not the hard earned HEA of Aaron and Spencer’s story. ON the other hand, it’s not as horrific in terms of what happens to Anthony – specifically – but still so painful to read.
There’s also another couple twists in this that threw me for a loop – and had me kissing my own daughter – reminding myself that she’s safe.
If you were a fan of Aaron/Spencer, you’ll want to read this. If you haven’t read any of the series, but like dark, angsty reads with dark, angsty heroes – this is the book for you.
What I need now is to find out what happens to the brother – not saying which!
Highly Recommended
(LOVE the Mackey reference – GOD – I love when characters become family members, don’t you?!)
5 of 5 stars
Anthony is Aaron Downing’s youngest brother. Aaron was a victim of a kidnapping and it left his family a wreck. Since the kidnapping, Anthony has been relegated to the basement of the family both literally and figuratively. Now, he’s 18 and he’s had enough.
When the straight best friend he’s crushed on for years finally pushes him too far, Anthony hooks up with an online friend and runs away to Detroit. He’s almost made it when his car breaks down and he ends up being “saved” by the one family that probably understands his plight better than anyone.
Brendan was about Anthony’s age when he and his father were held up and shot at the liquor store the family owns. Now Brendan can’t leave his apartment for the crippling anxiety the thought provokes. His older brother Patrick is left to keep the store running and do what he can to help Brendan.
**
Wow. This story did not go how I thought it would.
On the one hand, it’s actually a bit darker than Aaron’s story – in the sense that we are left with a HFN and not the hard earned HEA of Aaron and Spencer’s story. ON the other hand, it’s not as horrific in terms of what happens to Anthony – specifically – but still so painful to read.
There’s also another couple twists in this that threw me for a loop – and had me kissing my own daughter – reminding myself that she’s safe.
If you were a fan of Aaron/Spencer, you’ll want to read this. If you haven’t read any of the series, but like dark, angsty reads with dark, angsty heroes – this is the book for you.
What I need now is to find out what happens to the brother – not saying which!
Highly Recommended
(LOVE the Mackey reference – GOD – I love when characters become family members, don’t you?!)
5 of 5 stars
June 29, 2016
Anthony is Aaron's Little brother. I have not read the first three books so I can ensure you that you can enjoy this as a standalone. And love it. From what I can gather it isn't as dark as the others. Here is a lot of angst and all the characters are broken.
Anthony is almost 18 and fed up with being invisible by his family and mistreated by his friends. When the boy he has crushed on all through school has him blow him then outs him in front of the party Anthony is mortified and decides not to graduate. He has an online gamer friend that asks him to come to Detroit and be with him so Anthony packs his worldly possessions and heads off.
Fate seems to intervene as an accident and road construction puts hi way off schedule then his car breaks down in front of a liquor store.
Patrick and Bren have their own Problems from a tragic past.
I can't decide who I liked the most. Each of these men had tortured pasts and was living with deep emotional problems. I loved how they bonded as friends and each one added something to the other. There were enough hints about Aaron's story that I wanted that one as well.
The story is quite touching, there are some twists and nail-biting suspense.
If you like angst, broken characters, good character growth, an intriguing plot and just a little hot man-sex you will love this. It is book 4 and I do suggest you read them in order for full impact ( though it does stand alone ok)
Anthony is almost 18 and fed up with being invisible by his family and mistreated by his friends. When the boy he has crushed on all through school has him blow him then outs him in front of the party Anthony is mortified and decides not to graduate. He has an online gamer friend that asks him to come to Detroit and be with him so Anthony packs his worldly possessions and heads off.
Fate seems to intervene as an accident and road construction puts hi way off schedule then his car breaks down in front of a liquor store.
Patrick and Bren have their own Problems from a tragic past.
I can't decide who I liked the most. Each of these men had tortured pasts and was living with deep emotional problems. I loved how they bonded as friends and each one added something to the other. There were enough hints about Aaron's story that I wanted that one as well.
The story is quite touching, there are some twists and nail-biting suspense.
If you like angst, broken characters, good character growth, an intriguing plot and just a little hot man-sex you will love this. It is book 4 and I do suggest you read them in order for full impact ( though it does stand alone ok)
August 18, 2016
Anthony by J.P. Barnaby is the fourth book in the Survivor series. It’s about seventeen-year-old Anthony’s reaction to one betrayal too many from the people closest to him. He packs a bag and runs to meet the only person he believes still cares about him, his internet friend Jay. Fortunately for him, Anthony’s car breaks down in front of a convenience store owned by brothers who may give him renewed hope.
Barnaby did a fantastic job with this book. I’ve never seen a series book that can be read so easily as a standalone. Anthony’s pain was heartbreakingly real and it touched every aspect of his life and personality. There were times throughout the book that I got frustrated with him for his immaturity, but then I reminded myself that number one, he was a teenager, and number two, he felt invisible to his family for the past eight years. So maybe his attitude was reasonable.
The rest of Barnaby’s characters were equally real. The panic that Brendan felt whenever he thought about his brother, Patrick, getting hurt was contrasted with Patrick’s resentful devotion to the only family he had left. This story about broken families helping each other to heal is a must read.
Reviewed by Liz Cat for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
Barnaby did a fantastic job with this book. I’ve never seen a series book that can be read so easily as a standalone. Anthony’s pain was heartbreakingly real and it touched every aspect of his life and personality. There were times throughout the book that I got frustrated with him for his immaturity, but then I reminded myself that number one, he was a teenager, and number two, he felt invisible to his family for the past eight years. So maybe his attitude was reasonable.
The rest of Barnaby’s characters were equally real. The panic that Brendan felt whenever he thought about his brother, Patrick, getting hurt was contrasted with Patrick’s resentful devotion to the only family he had left. This story about broken families helping each other to heal is a must read.
Reviewed by Liz Cat for Crystal’s Many Reviewers
*Copy provided for review*
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